Limekiln 7/22

Garrapata Beach is not launchable. Instead,  Dave, Tim and Paul (nomad) and Eric (eyeatbay) hit Limekiln water today. Condition is glassy, although later wind picks up a bit. It is very fishable.

I managed landing 6 reds + released a dozen rock fish. The biggest red I got is 21". Dave had a a good size ling and 3 reds, released many rockfish. Dave can chime in.  Nomad targeted lings only today and landed a 29", but released 2 reds and dozen rockfish. Tim used a light rod and played 20+ rock fish. He only kept 3.

When coming in, I rolled and kayak knocked my head. I did not get hurted, but lost tackle box + sunglass. I should have store things away before commiting. Other than that, a great day on the water, in particular day was hot here, but comfortable there.

Eric

Hopefully dave will post a pic of that lingcod.  I didn't get a real good look at it, but it had a head the size of a bulldozer.

I am going to add on to your story about wiping out Eric, if you don't mind.  You are still a better kayaker in the surf than me, so I'm not trying to rag on you, it was just very impressive from my point of view.

Tim, Eric, and I were all ready to land at the same time.  I went first and managed to make it in safe (RARE).  After I pulled my yak up, Eric was ready to land.  I walked to the edge of the surf to help if necessary.  He started paddling hard and was following a wave in nicely when a big one appeared out of nowhere behind him.  I was about to tell him to abort, but he was already committed and I didn't want to distract him from paddling his ass off.  As that wave snuck up behind him it lifted his kayak like it was in a catapult.  Eric goes flying off from the force of the wave and I watch as his kayak comes down on top of him and smacks him right on the top of the head.  And then there was no Eric.  For a full second or two all I see is his kayak and white water.  I run into the surf as fast as I can and by the time I reach his kayak he has emerged from the water.  I shout "Are you ok?"...no answer.  I'm thinking about forgeting the kayak and grabbing him so I shout again and he says he is fine so I grab his kayak and haul it out of the surf.

I'm glad you were ok Eric!  Pretty wild wipeout.

It's pretty important to leap to the side when you know you are toast.

eric, glad you are okay. two tips:

1. look behind you even when paddling hard. There is often one more wave in a set.
make sure the whole set went by before you paddle in.

2. if you know you will be catapulted, leap to the side. anything to get behind the kayak, not
in front of it.

J

Nomad, thanks for your help on gripping my yak in time. After the surf tossed me like a leaf, I was totally blank for ~2 seconds - no sense of pushing me inshore or outshore. After surf pushed furtuer, I felt touched the beach (grounded), then merged out of water.

John - you are right - surf expert! I did time the 1st surf, but not the 2nd. They were rolling in set in my case. The 2nd break killed me. I should have waited.

One day I will get snorkel mask and have 7mm wetsuit on (water was cold) to recover the lost gears.  . Breaks may push me like a leaf, then I just play with surf on beach. 

man, i hate it when that happens, at anchor bay the 7 foot swells got me launched out of my kayak and it felt good. i think we should all carry a skateboard halmet or something in case this happens. that way you'll have a little protection. anyone have one of those old italian bike racing helmets? the flexible ones? those would be light, easy to store and maybe help in a crash landing.

glad you all made it in ok and had some great fishing!

john

anyone have one of those old italian bike racing helmets?

I haven't seen a skid lid in years....

There are some pretty boss whitewater kayak helmets if your concerned about it.

MolBasser